As an integral part of the L’Ormarins estate, each year the Franschhoek Motor Museum actively supports the annual L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, the Cape’s most prestigious horse racing event and one of South Africa’s most important calendar affairs. The weight-for-age race sees the best 16 thoroughbred horses in the country accepted according to their merit ratings. This year’s running was held at the Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town on 12 January when equestrian contenders competed for the R1 million purse and race-goers were looking to land best-dressed honours. In addition, attendees were able to view some horsepower of a different kind with some of the latest Mercedes-Benz automobiles displayed with a number of classic, rare examples courtesy of the Franschhoek Motor Museum.
It was 1861 when the legendary Queen’s Plate race first thundered on African soil, with a prize of a silver plate and 500 sovereigns donated to the winner by Queen Victoria. The race signalled a meeting of racing excellence, style and grace that has continued unsurpassed in the history of South African horse racing. The occasion is marked with blue-and-white themed fashions, world-class entertainment and a variety of hospitality and culinary offerings.
Sponsored by L’Ormarins since 2005, the Queen’s Plate has become one of the Cape’s acclaimed social gatherings where art and passion are captured not only in equestrian endeavours but also in the ancient wine-making skills evident in the Antonij Rupert Wines on offer – and not to forget the Three-pointed Star cars.
The eighth race on the race day’s programme, the 2013 L’Ormarins Queens Plate had a dramatic start – well, non-start actually – when a couple of horses left the starting gate before the flag dropped, causing a delay while the breakaway animals were brought back. The second start was clean and the field stayed together throughout the classic mile race but it was the 2012 Equus Champion and favourite for the event, Variety Club, ridden by Anton Marcus, that moved into the lead and crossed the line first to loud cheers and great applause from the packed spectator areas.
Apart from earning the winner’s purse of R625 000, Variety Club could receive automatic entry into the lucrative $26 million Breeder’s Cup Mile in the USA later in the year. This comes after negotiations between L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate marketing head Jonathon Snaith and Breeders’ Cup Director of Racing Jonathan Christian led to a proposal to incorporate the Queen’s Plate into the Breeders’ Cup Challenge ‘Win and You’re In’ series. “The L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate has been positioned as not only the most celebrated weight-for-age South African equestrian championship, but also South Africa’s first international horse race. Any partnership formed with the Breeders’ Cup will enhance its status on the world stage,” said Snaith.
In glorious sunny – and not too windy – conditions, the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate race day lasted from 11h00 to 23h00 and was truly a festive affair with celebrities including the reigning Miss South Africa, Marilyn Ramos, revelling in the party atmosphere. The three Mercedes-Benz displays added appreciable style to the occasion with FMM’s 1929 S-Type providing a stark contrast with the 1955 300SL Gullwing and 1957 300SL Roadster displayed alongside the new SLS-based equivalents. On another stand, the museum’s 1938 540K was partnered with the latest CLS63 AMG and the all-new Shooting Brake. On the lawn in front of the main stand just before the finishing post the 1971 280SE Cabriolet, 1980 450SEL 6,9 saloon and 2003 DTM Coupé lined up with other new Mercedes models in an impressive display of mechanical horsepower set against the backdrop of some of the country’s finest race horses competing for the sport’s coveted Queen’s Plate. Altogether a star-studded occasion.
